App of the Month – Gaspy

When you're saving for a house deposit or paying off a mortgage, every dollar counts. Fuel is one of those expenses that quietly eats into your budget-and it's one of the easiest to reduce without changing your lifestyle. Enter Gaspy, a New Zealand app that helps you find the cheapest petrol nearby.

What Is Gaspy?

Gaspy is a free mobile app (available on iOS and Android) that uses crowdsourced data to show real-time fuel prices at petrol stations across New Zealand. Users report prices they see at the pump, creating an up-to-date map of fuel costs in your area.

The app shows:

• •Current prices at nearby stations
• •Price history and trends
• •Distance to each station
• •Additional amenities (toilets, coffee, car wash)

How Much Can You Actually Save?

Fuel price variations between stations can be surprisingly large-often 15-20 cents per litre within the same suburb.

Example savings calculation:

For a two-car household both filling up weekly, savings can easily exceed $800-1,000 per year.

Fuel Savings and Your Mortgage

Those savings might seem modest, but consider what they mean for your mortgage:

If you're saving for a deposit:

$50/month in fuel savings = $600/year toward your house fund. Over three years of saving, that's $1,800-plus the interest if it's in a savings account.

If you already own:

An extra $50/month on your mortgage principal makes a real difference. On a $500,000 mortgage at 6.5%:

• •Extra $50/month = $18,000 less interest over the loan term
• •You'll be mortgage-free 14 months earlier

Small, consistent savings compound significantly over time.

How to Use Gaspy Effectively

Check before you need fuel:

The best time to check Gaspy is when your tank hits half-full. This gives you flexibility to detour to a cheaper station rather than filling up at whatever's convenient when you're running on empty.

Consider the detour cost:

A 10-minute detour for 5 cents per litre savings on a 40L tank is only $2. Unless it's genuinely on your route, the time cost may not be worth it. Focus on larger price differences.

Look for patterns:

Fuel prices often follow weekly patterns. Many stations are cheapest early in the week and most expensive on Fridays. Gaspy's price history helps you spot these trends for your local stations.

Combine with loyalty programs:

Some fuel companies offer loyalty discounts. Combine Gaspy's price intelligence with AA Smartfuel, Airpoints Dollars at Z, or Countdown Fuel discounts for maximum savings.

Other Ways to Reduce Fuel Costs

While you're optimising fuel spending, consider these additional strategies:

Driving habits:

• •Maintain steady speeds (cruise control helps)
• •Accelerate gently and brake smoothly
• •Keep tyres properly inflated (under-inflation increases fuel consumption)
• •Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle

Vehicle choice:

When it's time to replace your car, fuel efficiency should factor into the decision. Hybrid vehicles, while more expensive upfront, can halve your fuel costs.

Trip combining:

Plan your errands to combine trips rather than making multiple short journeys. Cold engines use more fuel, so fewer starts means less consumption.

Beyond Fuel: Other Budgeting Apps

If Gaspy's approach appeals to you, consider these other apps for household savings:

• •Grocer: Compare supermarket prices across Countdown, Pak'nSave, and New World
• •Cheapies & Ozbargain: Find deals on electronics, homewares, and more
• •Pricespy: Compare prices on electronics and appliances before buying

Small wins across multiple spending categories add up to significant savings over time.

Small Savings, Big Mindset

Gaspy won't change your life overnight, but it represents a mindset shift: actively seeking the best price rather than passively accepting whatever's convenient. That mindset-applied across your budget-is what separates people who struggle to save from those who steadily build wealth.

Download Gaspy, check it before your next fill-up, and put the savings toward something that matters-like your mortgage.